Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-07-14
THE HAND OF DESTINY.

1 NAAGAi EAtlAtAAAAAG VI AAAS1- 49, Or
vines, bent lovingly over thenoisy wa
ters, while the auaacious zephyr sau.
ely brushed the face of the girl who
lay upon the sloping green bank. She
was SO still that a daring bird came
eurionsly near, and an adventure
some squirrel crept up slowly, his
brighs eyes glanced from side to side,
seeming to regard with wonder the fig,
ure clad in the plain white gown.
Suddenly two little feet p~rotruded
from the full skirt, and Wild a decided
Jump, and a shake of the dark curly
locks, Hazel THAR rose, and swinging
her broad garden hat by its string
started through the woods, when a
shrill whistle sounded. With a mis-.
chieyous smile, the girl hastily threw
her hat on the grass, and seizing a low
hanging grape vine, swung herself by 1t
on to o large branch, where she seat
ed herself, quite hidden by the clingine
moss and thick leaves.
In a moment a boy with a crop oil
yellow hair, honest blue eyes and a
smiling mouth, and wearing a straw
hat carelessly on the back OF his head,
came into sight, looking on either side
as he whistled.
"Hazell Hazelr' he called, adding in
an undertone, "Where is the girl?
Gone off to walk, / believe, when Pm
-Hullol" as a smothered laugh be-
trayed her. Now say, Hazel, that's
too bad; joking, when you're going
away so soon. Come down and let's
have one jolly talk"
81 was Just thinking how lonely
should be, and how | should miss you,
and these lovely woods, and the
brook, and-eyerything," answered
the girl, as she came swinging down
on the 1.-THE vine, dropping on the
grass beside her companion. North.
ern girls will be shocked at my
romps, and no one will be as good
company as my old Bob, bless you,"
she continued, embracing the boy with
the untrammeled freedom OF child.
! hood, for though nearly Is she had
never been taught conventlonalities
or had her impulses restrained.
A slight color filled Rob Stevens
brown cheeks and he unclasped the
arms thrown round his neck and rails.
ed the curly head on his shoulder and
said seriously: Hazel, dear, that is
well, | wanted to say something to
you, that very thing. We've been
friends a long time, haven't WEI" "Oi
course" and Hazel looked at him
wonderingly. "AEd, well-bother it
say,you won't forget me, will you, Ha.
eel, and you know what you promised
me down by the old magnolia?" 81
remember" she answered, al said I'd
never care for any one as much as you
and I'd wait until you were old
enough, and then we'd"- "All right,
never mind saying it, if you'll remem
Der and keep your promise; and say,
Hazel, you know girls don't usually
hug the fellows, so be careful. P'raps
you'd better not any more" The
dark eyes opened wide and the sensi-
tive mouth quivered. "No, Bob,
won't; only thought as long as it
was only you it va no harm. I'll try
and remember"
They sat there by the cool stream
until O clear bell warned them that
the evening meal was being prepared
in the big house, which could Just be
seen through the trees, and they
scampered, hand in hand, up the long,
green slope.
Judge THAR was a wealthy planter.
but also an educated gentleman, and
he realized the Importance OF sending
his motherless daughter away to bet,
ter schools than those in the "Sunny
South" The poor man tried TO per.
form all the duties of mother and
father, but he was sadly deficient
sometimes, and felt himself so lately
as he saw his "baby" growing into a
tall girl. He noticed her increasing
familiarity with Bob Stevens the son
of his nearest neighbor, and, indeed,
the only white child for some miles
around, and not daring to put new
ideas into her mind, deemed it advls,
able to place her in more experienced
hands. So early the following Mon,
day a Northern aunt took Hazel to
her home, and three weeks from the
day on which she bade Bob an affec.
tionate farewell saw her fairly estab,
lished in a fashionable school.
For a while, to HaZel's wondering
eyes, everything seemed like a fairy
tale, and being very susceptible, she
conceived VIOLENT attachments on all
sides; but her busy brain soon went
to work, and she began to distinguish
between the false and true, and got
over her first trial with the shallow.
ness of human nature with only q
slight heartache.
Rob wrote every week, telling her oil
the things that interested her at
home, and at first she answered in heI
old eifectionate way, until the girls
leased her about her devoted admirer,
Then Rob noticed that her letters
sounded forced, though still friendly,
and missing the sisterly confidence, he
wondered, then longed to see her, and
finally went north, in due time pre-,
sented his card at the door of the
boarding school. As he stood in the
long reception room, waiting for. his
old playmate to come, and wondering
if she would throw her arms about
his neck and kiss him as she used, he
saw a tall, graceful figure, in a Ions
gown OF clinging white stuff, with dus,
ky hair gathered in a loose knot or
the top OF her head, and dark, starry
eyes, standing at the door; be heard 8
rustic OF sweeping skirts, then a sweet
voice, and Hazel cordially shook
hands, assured him how glad she was
to see him, and offered a chair, with
q pretty motion of one white hand.
Self possessed and gracious, she made
poor Rob feel i'll at ease, and like such
a little boy, as he fingered the blue
felt hat he bought to please her, and
answered her questions in monosyl
tables.
But when he rose to 60 he made q
desperate effort and begged her to say
''good-by" in the old way. She flush,
ed in such q dainty way, he thought,
then said. %hurriedly:
81 hoped you'd never allude to that
folly again. You were the first to tell
NE that 1t wasn't quite good form,
and since then | have been grateful to
you for not taking advantage of a
child's impulsiveness. / think | have
to II great extent, outgrown the old
impetuosity, and / fancy ] shall new,
er again be guilty OF being the centre
Of such a tableu as that at the depot
when left c." and she laughed 81
the remembrance of the scene which
Rob had cherished tenderly.
So they said "good-afternoon' calm,
ly and quietly, and when Rob reached
his hotel he packed his gripsack and
left the city with a sinking heart, re
solved to put the face of the fair cir
behind him, to work hard and forget
the pang caused by her indifference
And as for Hazel, she went to hel
room with a bright face, but sudden
ly catching sight of the little bracelet